Augustus E. Alden

Augustus E. Alden (1837-1886) was an American Radical Republican politician.^[1][2] He served as the Mayor of Nashville, Tennessee from 1867 to 1868.^[1][2][3]

Biography

Early life

He was born in Augusta, Maine in 1837.^[1] His father was Col. Darius Alden and his mother, Caroline Nickerson.^[1]

Career

He fought in the American Civil War as a unionist from Minnesota and Maine.^[3][4] During William Gannaway Brownlow's campaign for Governor of Tennessee in 1965, he acted as a registrar for Davidson County.^[3] Historians have argued Governor Brownlow staged Alden's Nashville Mayoral election of 1867.^[5] Others have argued he won the election thanks to black voters.^[3] When Mayor William Matt Brown (1965-1967) accused him of stealing the election, Governor Brownlow sent General Joseph Alexander Cooper to calm the situation down and let Alden move into his new office.^[3]

Personal life

He married Amanda Sparling on October 19, 1871.^[1] They had no children.^[1] He died on April 23, 1886 in Seattle, Washington.^[1]

DEATH OF MAJOR ALDEN ^[6]

This community was shocked yesterday by the announcement that Major Augustus E. Alden had died suddenly at his residence, corner of Eighth and Madison streets, at 3:30 p.m. after a brief illness. The Major was about town on Tuesday attending to his duties as Inspector of Police and in the evening before going home ate quite heartily. On his way home he was taken with cramps and pains in the stomach, which troubled him all night. The next day, feeling no better, he sent for Dr. Sparling and afterwards for Dr. Smith, but all efforts to relieve his sufferings proved unavailing until death stepped in. The Major was conscious up to the last.

Augustus E. Alden was born in Augusta, Maine, in 1837, and was 49 years of age at the time of his death. He was educated and grew to manhood's estate in his native town, when he moved to Minnesota. At the breaking out of the rebellion he entered the army as First Lieutenant in the famous Second Regiment of Minnesota volunteers. He served on the staff of General Vandeviere at the battles of Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga. In the latter engagement he distinguished himself for gallantry and was brevetted Major on May 14, 1865. When mustered out of the service at the close of the war he remained at Nashville, Tenn., where he was elected Mayor for two terms during the years 1866 and 1867. When the Southern people again got control of the South, and the terrible Ku-Klux reign was in force, Major Alden with hundred of other loyal Northern men was obliged to leave the South. He went to Washington where he received a situation in the Revenue Department. While there he married Miss Amelia Sparling, eldest daughter of Dr. F. W. Sparling, then located in that city. When Dr. Sparling was detailed as acting post surgeon, United States Army, at Cape Disappointment, and moved West with his family, Major Alden came with him. In 1876 the major had a very severe spell of sickness, from which it was feared he would never recover, but by the aid of careful nursing and skilled medical attendance he pulled through and became well and strong. When Dr. Sparling was appointed Superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane at Steilacoom, he appointed Major Alden Accountant and outside Superintendent, which position he filled with credit for several years, and which he resigned to open the Hotel Brunswick in Seattle, in 1882, and remained proprietor of that establishment until about one year ago. The major was always thoroughly and intensely loyal, and a man who made many warm friends. A few months ago, during our troubles, when the Governor found it necessary to declare martial law for the city, he appointed Major Alden Provost Marshall. When civil law was restored, and the city authorities re-organized the police force, they created the office of Inspector of Police, and elected Major Alden to that position, and it was largely due to his efforts that we have so efficient a police force and so little lawlessness in the city at the present time.

Major Alden was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was Adjutant General of this department last year under Commander A. M. Brookes. He was also an honored member of the Masonic order, and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He leaves a wife and a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his loss. Out of respect for him flags were hoisted at half-mast at the announcement of his sudden death.

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Friends of Metropolitan Archives of Nashville and Davidson County, TN
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nashville Public Library: Mayors of Nashville, Tennessee
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Kent Dollar (ed.), Larry Whiteaker (ed.), W. Calvin Dickinson (ed.), Sister States, Enemy States: The Civil War in Kentucky and Tennessee, University Press of Kentucky, 2011
4. ↑ Bobby L. Lovett, The African-American History of Nashville, Tennessee, 1780-1930: Elites and Dilemmas, University of Arkansas Press, 1999, p. 211
5. ↑ Don H. Doyle, New Men, New Cities, New South: Atlanta, Nashville, Charleston, Mobile, 1860-1910, UNC Press Books, 1990, p. 31
6. ↑ Obituary from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Saturday, April 24, 1886, page 1, column C.